Logging grapple or tongs.



A. I. ZIPP.

LOGGING GRAPPLE 0R TONGS. APPLICATION FILED ocnao. um.

1,266,650. Patented May 21,1918.

3mm Imam/p d. Z/PP UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICF.

ABTHUR J. ZIPP, OF CENTRAL LAKE, MICHIGAN.

LOGGING GRAPPLE 0R TONGS.

Application filed October 30, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. ZLPP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Central Lake, in the county of Antrini and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Logging Grapples or Tongs of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to logging grapple or tongs.

The objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an efl'ective loggin grap le means for recovering submerged logs our the bottoms of lakes and rivers.

Second, to provide means of the character described comprising a pair of lo ging tongs with a sliding support for ho ding the tongs in position to en ge with the logs at the bottom-of the la e or river as the tongs are drawn along.

Further objects, relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the de tailed description to follow.

I'accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the followin specification. The invention is clearly efined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawin forming a part of this specification, in w ich:

Figure I is a side elevation of my 1111- proved doggin tongs.

Fig. II is li ewise a side elevation of my improved tongs showing the cable connections thereto and the tongs in open position.

Fig. III is a plan view.

Fig. IV is an enlarged sectional detail taken on a line corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. I.

Fig. V is an enlarged detail of the lower end of the rear tong.

Fig. V1 is an enlarged detail taken on a line corresponding to line 66 of Fig. V.

Fig. VII is an enlarged detail of a modification of the lower end of the rear tong corresponding to the view of Fig. V.

In the drawing, similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

The bottoms of many lakes and rivers which have formed Water courses for log Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21. .191 8.

Serial No. 199.256.

ging operations are covered with. or have thousands of logs embedded therein. The greater proportions of these logs are hard wood, which, on account of their high specific gravity, become watcr'logged in a comparatively short time to such an extent that they sink to the bottom of the water courses over which they are being transported. The water acts as a preservative and the re covery of these log is today of considerable con'm'iercial importance. The object of this invention is, therefore. to provide means for easily recovering these sunken logs which either .lie upon the bottoms of the lakes and streams. or may be partially embedded therein.

Referring to the drawing, 1 and 2 indicate a pair of logging tongs pivotally mounted upon the bolt 3. Rings 4 are pivotally secured to the upper end of each of the tongs 1 and 2 and a cable receiving ring 5 passes through the rings 4. The structure thus described is ordinarily known as a logging, or skidding tongs.

I provide a sliding support for the tongs, the support in the structure illustrated comprising a pair of runners 6 to the forward ends of which at i" are pivoted arnis T. These arms extend upwardly and inwardly. as shown in Fig. III, lo receive the pivot bolt 3 of the tongs. The upper ends of these arms 7 are provided with holes in which the collars S on the bolt 3 are disposed,see Fig. IV. Plates 9 are bolted to the runners 6. there being a wooden filler 10 between the runners (3 and the plates 9. A spreader link 11 has its outer ends pivotally connected with the said runners. These runners and the fillers 10 may be made entirely of metal plates of integral construction, a simple modification not necessary to illustrate.

A pointed log engaging finger 12 slides in guides 13 on the prong of the rear tong and is urged forwardly )y the spring 14. Normally the end of this log engaging finger projects beyond the end of the prong of the rear tong.

In Fig. VII, I show a modification of this pointed engaging finger 19 pivoted at 20 and held yieldingly in place by spring 21. a cord loop 22 being provided to keep the parts in cooperative relation.

A ring 15 pivotally secured to the lower end of the tong 1 receives the end of the (Zillilti it; which is used for dragging the tongs along: the bottom of the lake or river, the upper end of the cable 16 being connected with a tug. or other similar structure. A ring 17 secured to the lower end of the ton 2 forms a connection with the cable 18 which can be used for retracting the tongs to disengage the same or whenever desired.

In use the tongs a re lowered to the bottom of the lake or river by the cable 19 and are then drawn over the bottom by means of the cable 1.6. If the prong of the rear tong should engage the log L in the upper position, indicated in dotted outline in Fig. II, the cable 16 is slacked off and when a pill. is exerted on the cable 19 the tong 1 engages with the log on the op Josite side. The log is then raised by the ca le 19. If. however, the log is artially embedded in the bottom of the lalre or river 0'1, for some other reason. it occupies the position relative to the p'r'on'g of the rear tong shown in dotted outline at L this tong would Very likely slide over the log if it were not for the provision of the log engaging finger 12. This finger is sharpened to a point and when it engages a log, it arrests the movement of the tong whereupon the tong 1 is immediately lowered by slacking on the cable 161 and pulling on the cable 19 to engage the log. This operation causes the prong of'the' tong 2 to engage with the Side of the log and the log can then be raised.

\Vhile I have described the preferred embodimcnt of my invention in detail it is capable of other adaptations and modificatio'ns within the scope of the following claims.

Having 'thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: 1. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a pair of pivoted logging tongs, of a sliding support therefor comprising a pair of runners, a spreader link connecting said runners, upwardly extending arms pivotally secured to said runners for supporting the pivot o'f said tongs, means for connecting; a cable to the upper end of said tongs, means for connecting a cable to the lower end of each of said tongs, and a spring pressed log engaging finger secured to and 'projecting'heyond the prong of the rear tong.

2. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a pair of pivoted lofgging tongs, oi a sliding support therefor comprising a pair of runners, a spreader lint; connecting said runners, upwardly extending arms secured to said runners for supporting the pivot of said tongs, means for connecting a cable to the upper end of said tongs, means for'connecting a cable to the lower end of each of said tongs, and a spring pressed log engaging finger secured to and projecting beyond the prong of the rear tong.

3. 111 a structure of the class described, the combination with a pair of pivoted logging tongs. of a slidiu support therefor comprising a pair of runners. upward-Ly oxtending arms pirolally secured to said ru'nners for supporting: the pirnt of said tongs, means for connecting a cable to the upper end of said tongs. and means for connect in a abl to the lower end of each of said tongs.

4. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a pair of pivoted log in tongs, of a slidin support therefor comprising a pair of runners, upwardly extending arms secured to said runners for supporting the pivot of said wags, means for connecting a cable to the upper end of said tongs and dream for connecting a cable to the lower end of eachof said tongs.

5. in a structure of the class descnibed, the combination with a pair of pivoted logging tongs, of a sliding support therefor cernpfising a pair of runners, upwardly extending arms pit'0t'alli secured to said runners fo'r su per-tin said tongs, mes-n5 for connecting a cable to the upper end of said tongs, and means for connecting a cable to the lower end cferdh of said tongs.

6. In a strn'dtniecf the class described, the combination with a "pair of pivoted logging tongs of a sliding support therefor comprising a pair of runners, upvmrdlg e'X- tend'in'g arms on which said'tongs m motm'ted secured to said runners, means for connecting a cable to the lower end of each 'of said tongs.

7. In a structure of the class described, the com'bin'ittion with a pair of logging tongs, a support on which said tdn'gs Ere p'ivotall c mounted in upright position, means for connecting a caldle to the upper ends of said tongs. and means for connecting a drag cahile to the lower end of the forward ton'g.

8. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a pair of logging tongs. 0% a support on which said 'tongs'aire pivotally mounted in upright position, meansfor actuating said tongs to holdthem in either an open or closed position, and means'for cnga gingpartially cmbefld'edlogs comprisinga spring pressed log engaging finger slid'ably secured to and praise ing forwardly of the end of the 'prongo'f the rear tong.

9. In a structure of the class described,

the combination with a pair of logging tongs of means for slidably supportingsalid tongs in upright position. means"f0r actuatingsaid tongs to hold them in either an open enclosed position, and means for engaging" partially embedded logs.

10. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a pair of logging tongs, of means for siidably supporting said tongs in upright position, drag means adapted to hold said tongs in open position, and an independent hoisting means adapted to close said tongs.

11. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a pair of logging tongs, drag means connected to one of said tongs whereby the tongs are held in open position and means for slidably supporting the tongs in upright engaging position, and hoisting connections independent of said drag means for closing the tongs, coacting as specified. 15

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

